Birth story - Livia and baby Fridanna

We started the baby project in June last year and she was conceived the first time. From day 1 I knew that I was pregnant, it’s like I felt the fertilisation process. My friend thought I was crazy as how could I know so early, but the test proved my instincts right .

I prepared my pregnancy with fertility yoga & meditation and I continued to do yoga and mindfulness during the whole pregnancy. In addition we did a hypnobirthing course, which really helped me feel in control.

I had a pretty easy pregnancy, beside the constant peeing and my growing I did not have any problems. I ate really consciously and well, I had cravings but only for healthy food, but no junk food at all.

From the day I found out I was pregnant I knew I wanted a homebirth. Living in the Netherlands made it easier as homebirth is really supported and well organised here. Hospital was out of the question so I kept visualising my homebirth and doing meditation to manifest this.

She was due on the 5th of March and the midwife said on the last check up that she was engaged however she thinks she is going to born on the 41 weeks. I was super chilled even the last days. I met my friends, I did my walks etc. On the 3rd of March my instincts said to drink more black raspberry leaf tea ( which I was drinking since the second trimester to increase blood flow to the uterus and strengthen uterine muscle fibres) to do my groceries and yoga.

In the afternoon around 5PM I had some mild cramps but I thought it just the Braxton Hicks. I jumped on my birthing ball to do some exercises and I watched Netflix. The cramps seemed to go away, so I took a shower and prepared for dinner. However around 7pm the cramps came back but they were still mild, I didn’t have any appetite and I had constant diarrhoea so I knew something was going on..my body was preparing to give birth.

I sat on my birthing ball and listened to the Freya app and my husband applied some Basil & Black pepper oil for my lower back, Aromatouch on my shoulders and Deep blue on my belly. He also lightened up my 3 candles for the first 3 chakra-as baby is coming through on these chakras.

My surges came stronger and stronger, I was roaring like around 8:30 pm Freya said it’s time to call your midwife, and we did so. The midwives came at 10pm and as I was already 6 cm dilated the midwives stayed with us and called the Kraamzorg-maternity nurse. (which only exists in the Netherlands)

I took a hot shower with support from one of the midwife and she was guiding me with breathing exercises. After we went to Fridanna’s room for the delivery, where I previously prepared the wall with positive birth affirmation cards, which really helped me during the labor.

The first 2 hours I was standing in a goddess pose, literally this was the only bearable pose for me at that moment and for the pushing part I went on the bed. The midwives were amazing and coached me through the whole labour with breathing exercises. After 5 hours active labor at 1:30 AM on the 4th of March Fridanna was born naturally.

I felt so empowered, my whole delivery was such an amazing and powerful experience. I had pain of course but bearable pain as I really believe that our body is designed to birth a baby and we can do it without any medication, everything depends on our mindset and conscious lifestyle. I have a healthy baby girl & had the birth of my dreams. I can only advise to all mums to listen & trust your instincts and you can attract whatever you believe in. We can do it.